William a



(No Model.)

W. A. PENFIELD.

PEDESTAL FOR UNDERTAKERS USE. No. 566,934. 7 Patented Sept. 1, 1896.

"m: Nomus vrrzns cc. FHOTO-LITHOUM/ASHINDYON. n.-c.

UNITED. STATES PATENT nrica.

WILLIAM A. PENFIELD, OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE BRADLEY & HUBBARD-MFG. CO., OF SAME PLACE.

PEDESTAL FOR UNDERTAKERS USE.

SPEOIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 566,934, dated September 1, 1896.

Application filed June 19, 1896.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM A. PENFIELD, of Meriden, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Pedestals for Undertakers Use; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, 'in- Figure 1, a perspective view of one form which a folding pedestal constructed in accordance with my invention may assume; Fig. :2, a broken view showing a portion of the pedestal in its closed adjustment, Fig. 3, a broken view in side elevation particularly designed to show the locking-head and liftingtube in their relations to the upper and lower cross-bars; Fig. 4, a broken View in vertical central section particularly designed to show means for pivotally connecting the two parts or members of the pedestal on a central vertical line; Fig. 5, a broken view in elevation showing the lower cross-bars and the lockinghead when raised for unlocking the same; Fig. 6, a broken reverse plan view showing the locking-head in its relation to the lower cross-bars when the same are locked in their open positions; Fig. 7, a detached reverse plan view of the locking-head.

My invention relates to an improvement in undertakers pedestals or trestles, the object being to provide a simple, strong, durable, and appropriate device, presenting a handsome appearance and constructed with particular referenceto being folded for convenience of handling and transportation.

\Vith these ends in view my invention consists in certain details of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

, In carrying out my invention as herein shown the pedestal consists of two main parts or members, substantially corresponding to each other, one part comprising legs A and A, united at their upper ends by a horizontal cross-bar A and at their lower ends by a corresponding c-ross-bar A and terminating in $erial No. 596,113. (No model.)

ornamental feet A A, while the other part comprises legs B B, united at their upper ends by a horizontal cross-bar B and at their lower ends bya horizontal cross-bar B which joins them just above their ornamental feet B B The member first described is furnished with ornamental brackets A A and the member last described with corresponding brackets B B but these may be omitted, if desired, and if employed may undergo infinite changes of form. The two members or parts thus constructed are pivotally connected together on a vertical line passing through the longitudinal centers of their cross-bars. As herein shown, they are pivoted together by means of two flanged thimble-like pivots C and C, of which the former passes downward through centrally-arranged circular vertical openings 0 and a, formed in the cross-bars A and B and of which the latter passes upwardly through centrally-arranged circular vertical openings 0 0?, formed in the lower cross-bars A and B as shown in Fig. 4. These thimbles are connected together by means of a rod D, the upper and lower ends of which are threaded and inserted into threaded longitudinal bores 0 0 formed in the spindles. A tube D, encircling the coupling-rod D, corresponds in external diameter to the diameters of the shanks of the thilnbles C and C and impinges at its ends against. shoulders 0 0 formed by reducing the ends of the shanks of the spindles. The thimble C is further provided with a slot 0 (see Fig. 4) for the reception of a screwdriver, whereby the thimble C may be connected with and disconnected from the coupling-rod D at pleasure.

Although the means just set forth are suitable and effective for pivotally connecting the two parts or members of the pedestal I do not limit myself to such means, as they maybe replaced by a variety of equivalent devices for the same purpose. It will be readily understood that the two parts or 5 members of the pedestal, being thus pivoted together, may be swung so as to stand at a right angle to each other, as shown in Fig. 1, which represents the pedestal in its open position, or they may be swung to stand at' acute anglestc. each t r, as. sho n in Eisch rresents th p de tal i its closed or portable adjustment.

For locking the parts or members of the pedestal in their open positions I employ, as herein shown, a locking-head E, having four slots E, E E and E of which the slots E and E are shallow, to'adapt them to fit over the cross-bar A and of which the slots E and E are deep, to adapt the head to fit down over the cross-bar B which is located beneath the cross-bar A When the lockinghead is let down to engage with the bars, it firmly locks them in positions at right angles to each other and thus locks the pedestal open. To unlock the pedestal preparatory to collapsing it for transportation, it is only necessary to lift the locking-head so as to clear it from the said cross-bars A and B As herein shown, I have provided for lifting the locking-head by furnishing it with a lifting-tube F, to the lower end of which it is secured, and which encircles the tube D before mentioned, extending nearly to the upper end thereof, where it is furnished with a lift-- ing-flange F, which is located just below the cross-bar B and near enough thereto so that by clasping the fingers of the hand around the upper bars A and B the lifting-flange may be caught by the fingers and the liftingtube, and hence the locking-head lifted and disengaged from the cross-bars A and B after which the parts or members of the pedestal may be folded by a slight pressure of the fingers and without removing the hand from the pedestal.

My improved pedestal is not only commended by its capacity to be collapsed into a comparatively small space for convenience of transportation, but also by the fact that it is very easy to manipulate it. Th us, after the coffin has been removed from the pedestal, both of them may be quietly collapsed in the act of carrying them away.

It is apparent that in carrying out my invention many changes from the form and construction herein shown and described may be made. I would therefore have it understood that I do not limit myself to what I have herein shown and described, but hold myself at liberty to make such departures therefrom as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention. I am. aware, however, that folding tables and trestles are old, and also that it is old to provide a folding table with means for looking it in its open position.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a folding pedestal for undertakers use, the combination with two main parts or members, each comprising two legs and an upper and a lower cross-bar, of means for pivotally connecting the said parts or members on a central vertical line, and a verti- Cal y-m v b e loc i g-head. locate d y above the intersection of the lower cross-bars of the said parts or members, and having its lower face constructed to engage with the said bars for holding the two parts or members in their open positions.

2. In a folding pedestal for undertakers use, the combination with two main parts or members, each comprising two legs and an upper and a lower cross-bar, of means applied to the central portions of the said cross-bars for pivotallyconnectingthe said parts or members on a central vertical line, a verticallymovable locking-head located above the in tersection of the lower cross-bars and having its lower face constructed to engage with the said lower bars for locking them in their open positions, and a lifting-tube having the said head connected with its lower end and extending upward from the said head to a point close under theintersection of the upper cross-bars, and in position to be engaged by the fingers of the hand when the same is clasped over the said upper bars.

3. In a folding pedestal for undertakers use, the combination with two main parts or members each comprising two legs and an upper and a lower cross-bar, of two flanged, thimble-like pivots respectively applied to the upper and lower cross-bars, a rod interposed between the said pivots and connecting them together, a coupling-head located above the intersection of the lower cross-bars, and having its lower face adapted to be engaged with the said bars for holding them in their open positions, and a lifting-tube encircling the said rod, having the coupling-head connected with its lower end, and extended upward under the intersection of the upper bars.

4. In a folding pedestal for under-takers use, the combination with two main parts or members, each comprising two legs and an upper and a lower cross-bar, of two flanged, thimble -like pivots respectively extending downward through the upper cross-bars and upward through the lower cross-bars, a vertically-arranged rod entering the said pivots and connecting them together, a tube interposed between the pivots, and encircling the rod, a locking-head located above the intersection of the lower bars, and adapted to engage with the same for locking the parts in their open posit-ions, and a lifting-tube encircling the tube before mentioned, having the locking-head connected with its lower end, and having its upper end extended upward under the upper cross-bars.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

IVILLIAM A. PENFIELD.

lVitnesses W. A. HALL, W. R. BOOTH. 

